Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez hauls in a touchdown as Chargers Stephen Cooper and Quentin Jammer defend last year at Qualcomm Stadium.
JOHN R. McCUTCHEN / Union-Tribune
— John R. McCutchen / John R. McCutchen/Union-Tribune

A gross mismatch in terms of talent and experience, not to mention locale and preparation time, this game cries out for more humiliation and even ridicule of the visitors. The Chargers want no part of it. They know better.

In addition to their own shortcomings this season and the desperate turmoil that resulted during the bye week in San Diego, the Chargers recall how the Chiefs came from 10 points down to win by two touchdowns in their most recent trip to Qualcomm. Moreover, despite playing with a roster that has included 19 rookies and a starting lineup with as many as seven first-year players, the Chiefs beat the Broncos and took the Tampa Bay Buccaneers into overtime last Sunday.

So much for the cautionary tales, though. Fact is, few Chiefs teams have been quite so young and vulnerable to both the pass and run as the present one.

By less than two yards a game, only the winless Detroit Lions have given up more yardage on average than the Chiefs, and no AFC team has given up more points per game at 27.9. At one point in the Tampa Bay game, the most experienced defensive back in the game for Kansas City was Brandon Carr, who was playing in his eighth NFL game. Tyler Thigpen, a third-string quarterback by most measures, is the K.C. starter.

Jamaal Charles, RB – When all else fails, just put the ball in the hands of the guy who's toughest to tackle, and all else has pretty much failed in K.C. this year. Remarkably, the rookie from Texas managed a 106-yard game on only 18 carries against a Tampa Bay defense that has been particularly tough against the run. The way he moves the ball, the Chiefs appear ready to keep running Charles while wishing Johnson would just disappear and take his baggage with him.

Tyler Thigpen, QB – Teams in Kansas City's undermanned state have to resort to more trickery than most, and if anything, Thigpen does different stuff. That was him setting up wide while the Chiefs ran their own version of the “Wildcat” offense, and that was Thigpen hauling in a 37-yard TD pass from wide receiver Mark Bradley. Thigpen also is second only to Charles on the team in average gain per rush, having carried the ball 19 times for 103 yards. Over the past two weeks, too, he has completed 39-of-61 passes for 444 yards and three touchdowns, all without an interception.

Dwayne Bowe, WR – Seemingly every team has one, that pass-catcher who bedevils the Chargers, and Bowe is Kansas City's. Last year he amassed a franchise rookie record 164 yards receiving in his first game against San Diego, including a 51-yard TD catch, and he's among this year's most productive wideouts with 42 catches for 541 yards and three scores. There isn't a receiver in the draft Class of '07 with more receptions.